Folding clothesline extension apparatus



y 8, 1951 J. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,552,217

FOLDING CLOTHESLINE EXTENSION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l WIT ESSEb INVKNTOR y 1951 J. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,552,21?

FOLDING CLOTHESLINE EXTENSION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n1 ESSES mvEmoR y 1951 J. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,552,217

' FOLDING CLOTHESLINE EXTENSION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 9.

FIG.34. H635.

I NESSES INVENTOR W 2? Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFIE FOLDING GLOTH-ESLINE EXTENSION APPARATUS Joseph Rodriguez, Brooklyn, N.. Y.

Application September 24, 1945-, Serial No 61 8,2116

4" Glaims.

- This invention relates to an extension support for clotheslines.

The principal object of. this invention is theprovision of an extension support for clotheslines which is adapted to extend the clotheslines: into the house to facilitate hangin clothes upon the clothesline and removing the clothes therefrom. The invention is'particularly applicable to clotheslines which are looped around two supporting. pulleys, one pulley being mounted upon or adjacent to a window frame and th other pulley being mounted on a" clothes pole situated a. spaced distance from said window frame. In the present invention, the extension support carries the pulley which is normally mounted on or at the window frame. The extension support is swingable between a position outside th window and a position inside the window. In its latter position. its extends the clothesline into the house and thereby renders it possible to hang clothes upon said clothesline or to removeclothes from said clothesline without having to lean out of the window to do so.

A preferred form of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective, fragmentary view of the outside of a house, showing the clothesline extension support herein claimed mounted on the window frame, the window being hown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is another perspective, fragmentary View of. the inside of said house, showing the window in open position and the clothesline. extension support projecting into the house and carrying the clothesline with it.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the extension support.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the locking arm of said: extension support.

Fig. 5 is a. section on. the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig; 6 is a section on the line 6 '5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the pulley which sup"- ports the clothesline on said extension support.

Fig. 8 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of the U-shaped brackets of the extension support.

Fig. 10 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 11 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 12 is a top view of one of the hinge bars of the extension support.

Fig. 13 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 14 is a top view of a small U-shaped bracket.

Fig. 15 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 16 is a top view of. a curved plate which. is used as a clamp in said extension support.

Fig.1? i s-a sideview thereof..

Fig. l8 is a sideview of. alocking element on the: locking arm of the-clothesline extensionsupportu Fig. 19 isa front view thereof.

Fig. 20 is a frontview of the slotted element-on. said locking arm-winch enables the latter to move both pivotal-1y and slidabl-y on the frameof the extension support.

Fig. 21 isaside-view thereof.

Fig. 22 isa. top: view of another small U-shaped bracket.

Fig. 23 is aside view thereof Fig. 24 is a top view of oneof the horizontaI:

armsconstituting. the frame of. the extensionsupport.

Fig. 25: is. a. side view thereof.

Fig. 26 is: a front view. of a". clamping plate.

Fig. 27 is a. side edge view thereof;

Fig. 28. is a view. of the hook. and eye screw construction whereby the extension support is locked. inplace insidev the. house.

Fig. 29 is. a side.- view of a tubular member around which the clothesline extends. when the extension. support is locked in position outside of the house.

Fig. 30 is a. top view of a bracket. which. the hook engages to lock the extension support in positioninside the house.

Fig. 31 ha side edge view thereof Fig. 32' is. a top view of the main supporting; arm of the extension support.

Fig. 331is aside view thereof- Fig. 34 is a side view of'on of the spacers;

Fig. 35 is aface view thereof.

Fig.v 36 1's a top view of the main frame member of'the extension support.

Fig-37'i's a side viewthercof.

In the drawings, reference; character I designat'es a main supporting. rod with an offset bend at its lower end; said onset band is flattened and it is provided with. a hole to accommodate a screw 3 whereby said supporting rod. may be fastened to the window frame. The top end of said main supporting rod is engaged by an eye screw 2 which is. also fastened" to said window frame. It'is'upon this main supporting rod that. the extension support proper pivots between its two positions shown in Figs..1 and 2 ofthe drawmg.

A collar I1] is mounted. on said m'ai'n supporting rod immediately above its offset bend. and it is fastened to said rod by means of a pin M. This coll'ar'serves as; a bearing on which the; extension. support nests and pivots.v Two large U-shaped brackets 4 and 5 are provided with holes in their respective arms and holes in their respective yokes. Holes 5|! are adapted to register with each other when the two U-shaped brackets are supported in horizontal positions, one above the other, and said holes 59 are: adapted to accommodate the main supporting rod as Fig. 3 clearly shows. A vertical frame member 24 is fastened to the yokes of said U-shaped members by means of bolts 25, 26, 21 and 28. These bolts project through holes 5| in the yokes of said U-shaped brackets and through holes 86, 81, B8 and 89 in said vertical frame member 24. The two U-shaped brackets are now rigidly attached to each other and they are swingable about the main rod I as the drawing clearly shows.

Bars II and I2 are provided with registering holes 52 which also accommodate main rod I. These two bars II and I2 are swingably mounted on rod I between the arms of the U-shaped brackets. See Fig. 3. Spacers B, I, 8 and 9 space bars I and I2 from the arms of said U-shaped brackets so that said bars and said brackets may swing independently of each other on rod I. A vertical bar I3 having holes 74 and 1'5 at its two ends is fastened to the free ends of bars II and I2 which, as Fig. 3 clearly shows, are supported in horizontal positions. Bars It and I2 are provided with horizontally extending holes 53. These holes and holes I4 and I5 accommodate the arms of a large V-shaped bracket which supports the pulley assembly of the extension support. One of the arms I5 of said V-shaped bracket extends horizontally and the other arm I4 of said V- shaped bracket projects diagonally downwardly from said horizontal arm I5. The free ends of said arms I4 and I5 project through holes 53 of bars I I and I2 and holes I4 and I5 of bar I3 As Fig. 4 clearly shows, these free ends of the two arms are threaded to accommodate nuts I! and I9 and nuts IB and I8 respectively. It is by means of these nuts that said V-shaped bracket is fastened to arms II and I2 and it is by this means that said V-shaped bracket is adapted to swing into and out of the house, on rod I.

A block 20 is mounted on the V-shaped bracket where the two arms of said bracket meet. The block carries pulley 2| on axle 22 and a cotter pin 23 is provided to prevent dislodgcment of said axle 22 from said block 20. The axle is horizontally disposed as Figs. 1 and 2 clearly show and it supports the pulley in conventional manner. Pins 95 and 94 fasten the V-shaped bracket to block 29.

In cross-section, vertical frame member 24 is T-shaped except at its ends where it constitutes a flat bar. It is in its two flat ends that holes 86, 81, 88 and 89 aforementioned are formed. In addition to these holes are holes 83, 84 and 85 and holes 90, 9| and 92. Afiixed to the top and bottom ends of said frame member is a pair of small U-shaped brackets 29 and 3|. Spacers 39 and 32, which serve as clamping members, are also provided. Holes 59, GI, 69 and 62 are formed in U-shaped bracket 3|. Corresponding holes 68, I9, I I and 12 are formed in U-shaped bracket 29. Holes 64, 63 and 65, corresponding to holes BI, 69 and. 62, are formed in spacer 32. Holes 11, I6 and I8 are formed in spacer 30. Pins 35 and 31 project through holes II and IE and holes 69 and 63 and cotter pins 36 and 38 are provided to prevent dislodgment of said pins 35 and. 31.

1 A locking bar 39 is provided which is movable both longitudinally of itself and also pivotally on a horizontal pivot. A top piece 49 having a longitudinal slot 56 and a tapped hole 58 is mounted atop the locking bar. A bottom piece 4| having an open slot 54, a tapped hole 55 and a tapped hole 51 is mounted at the bottom end of said locking bar 39. More specifically, the top and bottom ends of the locking bar are provided with external screw threads which are adapted to engage the tapped holes of said top and bottom pieces 49 and 4| respectively. Pin 31 projects through slot 56 and thereby supports the locking bar. Pin 35 is adapted to enter slot 54 and thereby anchor the lower end of the locking bar in place. When it is desired to pivot said locking bar on pin 31 it is necessary to move the bar upwardly until its bottom piece 4| clears pin 35. The locking bar will then be free to pivot upwardly on pin 31. U-shaped bracket 3| is fastened by means of clamping plate 32 and bolts 33 and 34 to the bottom end of frame member 24. This U-shaped bracket 3| is adapted to receive bottom piece 4| of the locking bar. U-shaped bracket 29 is fastened by means of clamping plate 30 and bolts 9'! and 98 to the upper end of said frame member 24. Said U-shaped bracket 29 accommodates the top piece 48 of the locking bar.

In the preferred form of this invention locking bar 39 is a tubular member which is provided with screw threads I9 and at its two ends. It will be understood that this locking bar may be made of other than tubular material and that it may be fastened to the top and bottom pieces by means other than screw threads.

A clamp 43 is fastened to horizontal arm I5 of the V-shaped pulley supporting bracket. This clamp comprises a pair of complementary plates which are bent or offset to receive said arm I5 between them. Bolts 48 and 49 fasten these two plates together upon said arm I5. A hole 41 is provided in said clamp 46 to accommodate a hook 8| which is fastened to an eye screw 8|a. As Fig. 2 clearly shows, the eye screw is fastened to the inside of the window frame and the hook is adapted to engage said clamp 49 to hold the V-shaped bracket in place in the house.

The slotted bottom end piece 4| of locking bar 39 is provided with a threaded hole 55 which accommodates the shank of an eye bolt 42. This eye bolt serves as a handle for manipulating said locking bar 39. It will be noted in the drawing that the pulley carries a clothesline 96. When the pulley is projected through the window and into the house the clothesline is of ample length to be carried by the pulley into said inwardly extending position. The locking bar must now be raised out of engagement with locking pin 35 and it may then be swung arcuately upwardly on pin 31. A square opening 73 is formed in bracket 29. When looking bar 39 is swung upwardly'to horizontal position it may be moved longitudinally of itself to bring its top piece ii! into said opening. This has the effect of locking said looking bar 39 in its said horizontal position. Clothes may now be hung upon the clothesline or taken off the clothesline, as the case may be. At the conclusion of this clothes hanging or removing operation, the locking bar 39 should be moved longitudinally of itself in the opposite direction to disengage its top piece 43 from the square hole. The locking bar may now be swung arcuately downwardly until it reaches a vertical position against the clothesline. Its slotted bottom piece 4| should be brought into engagement with pin 35 to prevent further arcuate movement of said locking bar. The V-shaped bracket which supports the pulley may now be swung from its position shown in Fig. 2 to its position shown in Fig. 1. The clothesline will thereby be swung around the locking bar 39 as Fig. 1 clearly shows.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it is understood of course, that changes, variations and modifications may be made in the invention, as come properly within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim:

1. A clothesline support adapted to extend a clothesline into the house through a window, said support comprising a vertically disposed rod affixed to the outside of the window frame, a pair of horizontally extending bars pivotally mounted at one end to said vertical rod, a horizontally extending bracket supported by said horizontal bars at their respective free ends, whereby said bracket and bar assembly may be swung around on said vertical rod through the window either inwardly or outwardly as desired, a hook construction interengaging the inside of the window frame and the bracket whereby said bracket may be engaged and locked into position inside the window, a pulley wheel mounted at the free end of said bracket on a horizontal axis, said pulley wheel being adapted to support the clothesline, a pair of horizontally disposed brackets pivotally mounted at one end on said vertical rod, a vertically disposed brace afiixed to the free ends of said brackets and holding them in fixed position relative to each other, and a locking bar pivotally connected at one end to said brace and bracket assembly for engaging and locking the clothesline horizontally disposed support bars pivotally mounted at one end on a common vertical support rod, a horizontally extending bracket afiixed to the free ends of said pivoted support bars, a pulley mounted on the free end of said bracket supportin the clothesline, said pulley carrying bracket being adapted to swing into or out of the house through the window on said pivotally mounted support bars, an adjustable latching means aflixing said pulley bracket to the inside of the window frame when said bracket is swung into the house and holding it in alignment with the clothesline, a pair of horizontally disposed support members pivotally mounted at one end on the same common vertical support rod, a vertically disposed brace afixed to the free ends of said support members and holding them in fixed position relative to each other, a locking bar pivotally connected at one end to one of the free ends of said brace and support member assembly, said locking bar being provided at its opposite end with a lockin means by which it is locked to the opposite free end of said latter brace and support member assembly, said locking bar being adapted when pivoted into its locked position to engage and hold the clothesline when the pulley supporting bracket is swung out of the window.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the locking bar and locking means for said bar comprise a rod which is slidably and pivotally connected by pin and slot means at its upper end to the upper end of the vertically disposed brace afiixed to the pair of horizontally disposed support members, whereby said rod is free to pivot from a vertical to a horizontal position and to shift longitudinally to a predetermined extent when in either of said positions, means provided on the lower end of the vertically disposed brace affixed to the said pair of horizontally disposed support members for engaging and holdin the free end of said rod when the rod is in vertical position, and means for engaging and holding the pivotally and slidably mounted end of said rod when same is in horizontal position.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the free ends of the pair of horizontally disposed support bars are connected to a vertical bar and the horizontally extending bracket is aifixed to said vertical bar.

JOSEPH M. RODRIGUEZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 218,773 Raisbeck et a1 Aug. 19, 1879 576,807 Carman Feb. 9, 1897 1,014,291 Frey Jan. 9, 1912 1,127,693 Stasaitis Feb. 9, 1915 1,462,241 Munford July 17, 1923 1,899,467 Lance Feb. 28, 1933 

